Beauty is only skin deep

Often, we define ourselves by our (very tiny) imperfections. The longer we stare at ourselves in the mirror the more prominent these become.

God is very clear that we, as ladies should NOT do that! Do not let your identity, in other words, the source of your well-being, be your small imperfections but allow the Potter's will and ways to be your identity (read all about it in Jer 18:4-6).

In other words, allow Jesus and His working in your life to define you!

Delicious treats for High Tea 2015

The potter makes the vessel from clay for His good purposes (Jer 18:4-6). What are the purposes God made you for? This is what makes you, woman of God, beautiful. This is what makes a woman blessed: when she does as she is purposed to do with an awesome attitude.

- inward peace; outward obedience

The woman in Prov 31 is blessed and beautiful because she DOES (say Does, Do, Work.. it's a verb!), she does that which God has given her to do and steward. (Read all about it in Prov 31:28)

- you are only blessed when you become a blessing. (!!!)

We often say someone is blessed because of their circumstances, especially financial or because of their physical features. We often say “she is blessed with pretty blue eyes” but actually, no, she is only blessed when she uses her pretty blue eyes to do that which Christ has called her to do. She is not blessed when she uses her pretty blue eyes to covet; judge others or lust. “If your pretty blue eyes make you stumble, then rip them out!”, Jesus says. He said this so we can understand that the carnal mind- the way the world thinks- is NOT how we should think.

Beauty as intended by God is NOT a physical feature but a state of the heart and mind that relies utterly and entirely on Christ. Christ is the source of our awesome attitude; Christ is the source of life. Christ is our identity. There is no self. No such thing as self-esteem. Only to esteem Christ; to live with the constant awareness of the value and worth of Jesus Christ. And He deems me worthy, just as He, the Potter purposed and designed me. The Holy Spirit enables me to DO that which He has purposed me for. My appearance is a means to an end- it serves (say “serves” NOT deserves. Its a servant!), it serves to help me achieve the purposes of God. (Tell your body “you will serve the purposes of God!!).

Do you want a lasting beauty that will never fade? Stop spending so much time in front of the mirror and more time at the feet of Jesus and with the tasks of Jesus and He will adorn you with the IMPERISHABLE (say “imperishable”, say “everlasting”, say “eternal”, say “forever beautiful”), He will adorn you with the imperishable beauty of a peace-filled, content and soft heart (Read about it in 1 Pe 3;3-4).

Obedience is more important that sacrifice. Rather obey the Holy Spirit and stop sacrificing your time and energy and money and JOY on something trivial like loosing a few pounds or having the perfect hairdo. What has God called you to do...? Obedience is simply doing that which God has told you to do.

For some of us ladies, we need to hear that God has purposed us to be that help-meet to our husbands. Yes, you, not someone else. You are purposed to be your husband's help-meet and putting on make-up and smelling fresh and fabulous and taking care of your body is part of fulfilling the purpose of being an excellent (Prov 31) wife. I am not trying to throw the bathwater out with the baby (or is it the baby with the bathwater?!). I am not saying lets all go au natural -anti-make up- heavens no! We can use these tools, like putting icing on a cake, to enhance and highlight our perfect (jup, perfect) features and to go that extra mile for our men. It is part of what we can do to steward this temple well, but it is far from making us truly beautiful.

If your identity (trust, confidence) does not originate from Christ then you will always be unsatisfied, unhappy and feeling dead ugly. I am not talking about feeling fat or ugly every now and then- we all have those moments and we all have to learn to to stop staring at our imperfections and to command our feelings to SERVE the purposes of God and rather to be led by the solid, infallible, life-giving Word of God- but when you have no inward peace and you find your identity in what you wear or your dress size then you will continually feel imperfect and in need of some fixing...

There is a reason why the beauty industry is booming with every second dentist offering botox, detox or some sort of lift-ox. Why? Because of huge demand, dear! Women are empty inside, and with nothing to base their identity on but their looks and achievements – both vain because it vanishes (looks and striving vanishes therefore the bible describes these as vain; vanity. Read Eccl & Proverbs). This emptiness that women cannot seem to fill with vanity creates insecurities, tensions, stress, anxiety and depression... and these hidden heart conditions lead many women to live mediocre, unhappy and unfulfilled lives. Not so pretty.

Do not put your identity in yourself, but put your identity in a perfect God. Put your trust in Christ, for so the women of God such as Sarah, as we read in scripture, adorned themselves and they were absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. Sarah was so beautiful that Kings desired her (see the story of Sarah in Gen 12; Gen 20)

Truth is, beauty has nothing to do with skin at all. Its gotta do with heart.

The tables looked amazing! ... and not a cent spent. Simply creative use of what you have- for example using leftover wallpaper as a runner.

What a spoil! We were blessed with gift bags for every lady.